Adjustable wrench-head.



C. I. COULTER- ADJUSTABLE WRENCH HEAD.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23, ms.

Patented Jan. 14,1919.

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PAT OFFICE.

CHARLES J". COULTER, 0F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE. WRENCH-HEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent- Patented J an. 14, 1919.

Application filed August 23, 1918. Serial No. 251,089.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES J. OoUUrER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and usefulAdjustable VVrench- Head, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to wrench heads of the adjustable type and onethat is especlally useful as an element of a machine wrench. A machineof the type capable of employing this improved Wrench head is disclosed1n my patent for combined machine wrench and clamp, No. 871382, datedNovember 19, 1907.

An object of the invention is to produce an adjustable wrench head ofcomparatively great simplicity combined with strength.

Another object is to effect ease of adjustment of the wrench head to fitvarious sizes of nuts.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the subjoined detaileddescription.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

. Figure 1 is a side elevation of a -wrench head constructed inaccordance with the provisions of this invention, the jaws being 1ntheir expanded positions. p

Fig. 2 is an end view from the left of Fig. 1. j

Fig. 3 is an end view analogous to Fig. 2, excepting that the adjustingring and body are relatively turned through an angle of et5 of circularmeasurement.

Fig. 4: is a ectional elevation 011 hne indicated by 00 -00, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal mid section on line indicated by $0 -00, Fig.1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on line ma2, Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the ad usting ring.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings there isprovided a body 1 having a shank 2, preferably of angular cross sectionso that it can be inserted in a suitable socket for turning of thewrench head. In the above identified patent a suitable socket forholding the shank 2 is formed by the hub of a wheel by which power isapplied to turn the shank. This wrench head is especially designed to beused in conjunction with a machine of the type dlsclosed 1n the aboveidentified patent, but it is understood that it may be used with anymachine suitable for effecting the turning of the wrench head.

The body 1 is provided with any suitable number of longitudinallyextending recesses 3 in its peripheral face, the body being other wiseof cylindrical form. The recesses 3 are deeper at the outer end of thebody 1 than at the base and are gradually reduced from the outer endtoward the base asclearly shown in Fig. 5. Within each of the recesses 8is a spring 1, flat in the instance shown and fastened by screws 5 ortheir equivalents to the body 1. The free ends of the springs 4 arenaturally sprung outward and engage the inner faces of jaws 6,respectively, which are inserted in and closely fit the sides of therecesses 3. The fit of the jaws in the recesse is just sufficientlytight to prevent Side play of the jaws but not sufficiently tighttoprevent radial movement of the jaws. The peripheral faces of the jaws 6are curved and substantially fit the inner face of an adjusting ring ;7between peripherally arranged wedges 8. These wedges 8 are spaced fromone another and equal in number the jaws 6. The ring 7 is 'journaled onthe body 1 and When the ring is turnedin the directionof the arrow a,Fig. 2, the wedges 8 function toforce the jaws 6 inward against thepressure of the springs l. The turning movement of the ring-7 is limitedand the ring is held in place by a screw or screws 9, or theirequivalents, projecting from the body 1 and passing through aperipherally extending slot 01' slots 10 in the ring. The screw 9 andslots 10 in this instance are arranged at opposite sides of the ring andonly one of the slots can be seen in Fig. 1 owing to the nature of theview.

Though not absolutely necessary it is advisable to loosely pivot theinner ends of the jaws 6 to the body 1 and to effect this the innor endsof the jaws 6 are provided with screws 11, the heads of which areaccommodated in outwardly expanding holes 12 in a band 13 that surroundsthe base portion of the body 1 and that is fastened to the body byscrews 14, or their equivalents. The wedges 8 need not be the full widthof the ring 7 and they bear against the peripheral faces of the jaws 6just below the gripping heads 15 of said jaws which project beyond theouter end of the body 1 so that they may be readily brought intoengagement with a nut, not shown, for turning the nut on and oil of abolt.

' identified patent. The jaws 6 will be adjusted to the size of the nut,which is to be manipulated, by turning the adjusting ring 7 sufficientlyto close the jaws 6 against the sides of the nut. The shank 2 will thenbe rotated to turn the body 1, thus rotating the jaws 6 about the axisof the tool and turning the nut to which the jaws 6 have been applied.The wedges 8, during the turning of the tool, prevent the jaws 6 frombeing forced outward away from the sides of the nut. Y r

The wrench head disclosed in the above identified patent isnon-adjustable and therefore it was necessary for the user of themachine to have on hand several different sizes of the wrench heads tofit different sizes of nuts. By this invention but one wrench head isnecessary to fit different sizes of nuts and the adjustment to differentsizes is readily made.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited'to the exactconstruction shown in the drawings and above described, but alsoembraces such changes and modifications as lie within the spirit andscope of the ap- @opice of this patent may be obtained for pendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A wrench head comprising a body having recesses in its periphery,jaws in the recesses projecting beyond the outer end of the body, a bandsurrounding the base portion inner faces of the jaws to press the jawsoutward, and a ring surrounding the outer end portion of the body andprovided with peripherally arranged wedges on'its inner face bearingagainst the outer faces of the jaws.

2. A wrench head comprising a body having recesses in its periphery,jaws in the recesses projecting beyond the outer end of the body, a bandsurrounding the base ortion of the body and provided with outwardlyexpanding holes,screws projecting outward from the inner end portions ofthe jaws and the heads of said screws extending into the holes in theband and loosely fitting said holes, means fastening the band to thebody,

fiat springs fastened to the inner walls of the recesses and bearlngagainst the inner faces of the jaws to press the jaws outward, and aring surrounding the outer end pore tion of the body and provided withperipherally arranged wedges on its inner faces bearing against theouter faces of the jaws. Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 15th.day of August, 1918.

CHARLES J. GOULTER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE H. HILES, L. BELLE WEAVER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents,

Washington, D. 6.

